The Helderberg Nature Reserve is situated in Somerset West on the slopes of the beautiful Helderberg Mountain overlooking False Bay. It is owned and managed by the City of Cape Town with the support of the Friends of the Helderberg Nature Reserve. The Reserve reaches up as far as the cliff faces. The peaks above the Reserve are managed by Cape Nature.
There are picnic spots, a small
restaurant called the Oak Café which serves great food, an information centre, a
gift shop, exhibitions and hiking trails for young and old. One can view Bontebok,
and watch the tortoises lazily mowing the lawns. There are several walking
trails in the Reserve.
History
In the early 1960’s, The Rotary Club
of Somerset West suggested that a Nature Reserve would benefit the Community. On
3 October 1964, the farmland was opened as a reserve by the Administrator of
the Cape.
Ericas
The
Ericas number some 650 species within the borders of South Africa. Of these
approximately 420 occur in the Southwestern Cape. Plants are quite diverse,
ranging in size from large to relatively small, tree or shrublike or sprawling.
The orange breasted sunbird is the main pollinator of tube shaped Ericas, and
the shape of the flowers is the same as the shape of their beaks. The bright
colours attract the pollinators. The smaller ericas (usually bell shaped), are
pollinated by the wind or by insects.
Opening hours
1
November
|
–
|
30
November
|
:
07:30 – 19:00
|
1
December
|
–
|
28
February
|
:
07:30 – 20:00
|
1
March
|
–
|
31
March
|
:
07:30 – 19:00
|
1
April
|
–
|
31
October
|
:
07:30 – 17:30
|
Email
o
Information
Centre: (021) 851-4060
(open daily from 10:00-16:30)
(open daily from 10:00-16:30)
Links
